Inductees into the FCA Hall of Champions recently gathered with their family members and the FCA family at the National Support Center in Kansas City for the Hall of Champions Induction Ceremony.
The May 9 event welcomed the Class of 2017, whose honorees have worked tirelessly to further the FCA vision: to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes. FCA Hall of Champions honorees over the years have consisted of a mix of coaches, athletes and volunteers.
“What an amazing time it was to welcome this impressive group of Hall of Champions inductees to our home in Kansas City,” said FCA President and CEO Shane Williamson. “These wonderful individuals have not only made contributions to the sports they love, but to the communities and teams to which they are committed. We are so thankful for the contributions to sports and to Jesus Christ through FCA, as we honored our inductees and brought them together in one location to fellowship, reminisce and bond over their service to the Lord through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.”
These inductees, Dan Boyd, Heather Goodrich, Dave Krider, Dan Wooldridge and the late Ken Sparks, who was honored in a separate ceremony shortly before his death last year, gathered for a time of fellowship, inspiration and gratitude.
Dan Boyd has served FCA as a board member in Colorado for more than 50 years. He is currently the State Advisory Board Chairman and also served for six years on the National Board of Trustees. Boyd first became involved in FCA as a student-athlete in the late 1950s. Although Boyd never played professionally, he was a decorated high school athlete. Along with a sterling reputation as an entrepreneur and business leader in the Denver community, he served as an officer in the Navy and has been the champion of the Denver Athletic Club Racquetball Tournament regularly. Boyd and his wife, Gay, live in Englewood, Colorado.
FCA President Shane Williamson with Hall of Champions inductee Heather Goodrich
Known in FCA circles as “Momma G,” Heather Goodrich has been immersed in FCA for nearly her entire life, serving as a volunteer, Huddle Leader and board member. Goodrich was influential through FCA at Rising Starr Middle School and Starr’s Mill High School in Fayetteville, Georgia. After Goodrich moved to Delaware, she became a powerhouse advocate for FCA in the community of Fenwick as well. Goodrich was also known to encourage graduating high school seniors to start FCA on their college campuses or in their communities. Goodrich and her husband, Kent, reside in Fenwick Island, Delaware. Goodrich’s father, Freddy Mitchell, is also a part of the Hall of Champions.
FCA President Shane Williamson with Hall of Champions inductee Dave Krider
For more than 50 years as a sports writer, Dave Krider pioneered prep sports’ national prominence and has a place in eight halls of fame for sports writing, penning articles for USA Today, Sports Illustrated and Max Preps. A 42-year FCA Huddle Coach in Indiana, Krider also volunteered at FCA Camps. He embraced FCA's vision and began praying for his town to start a Huddle at La Porte High School (LPHS), which launched in October 1975. Krider’s deep passion for Jesus, sports and kids uniquely combined to establish a ministry he’s led for the past four decades. He and his wife, Lois, who has co-led the FCA Huddle at LPHS for the past 30 years, reside in La Porte.
Read Krider's FCA in Action story.
FCA President Shane Williamson with Hall of Champions inductee Dan Wooldridge
Dan Wooldridge serves as a Roanoke Valley FCA Board Member in Virginia, and he and his wife, Nancy, were one of the three families to establish Roanoke Valley FCA in 1964. Wooldridge pioneered sending student-athletes to FCA Camps and Bible studies, and also established the Roanoke Valley Wide FCA Breakfast that united high schools throughout region. A three-sport standout in college, Wooldridge played professional baseball and coached high school sports and went on to serve as a scout for NFL officials and a consultant for ACC football. He was also chosen to be one of two referees from the United States to officiate the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. The Wooldridges live in Roanoke.
Ken Sparks, who passed away March 29, 2017, was honored this past winter for his FCA Hall of Champions induction during the Carson-Newman (Tennessee) Football Championship Coaching Clinic, an event for coaches and their spouses Sparks spearheaded for more than 30 years. The longtime Carson-Newman coach served as an ambassador for FCA around the country. He spoke at countless FCA coaching clinics, banquets and rallies, presenting the gospel to his audiences and sharing his faith with his players and teams. He was also a recipient of the Grant Teaff Lifetime Achievement Award. Along with his wife, Carol, Sparks was a member of Manley Baptist Church of Morristown.
Further information about the most recent class, including a complete list of previous Hall of Champions inductees, may be found at FCA's Hall of Champions page.
Watch FCA's Hall of Champions VIDEO.
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